36 weeks - no relief

[katehammonds]

I was just interested if any one with a similar situation has had any significant help from midwife at this point... I always assume I will just just get what I have experienced so far for all my pregnancy problems, which is a practiced sympathetic nod and some generic advice I could have Googled.

I'm 36 weeks and just feel like I can't do another day. My pregnancy has been horrific the whole way through but I've managed to at least joke about it but now I'm just getting really low

I've been sick since week 6. I am still throwing up now at 36 weeks. There's no pattern or specific triggers, just the ever lingering possibility I'm about to chunder.

I have had shit sleep throughout the whole pregnancy but I've been averaging 2 hours sleep a night for nearly a fortnight now, it's nearly 5 am and I have yet to go to bed because:

At night the pelvic girdle pain is ridiculous, because it is right in centre of bone midwife confirmed there is very little physio would be able to do and paracetamol doesn't touch it. I've had it from week 30 and it hasn't let up, any movement at night causes complete agony

My back has become painful last 2 weeks and only feels OK when stood up. Obviously this means trying to settle in the evening or actually.go to bed is impossible because sitting and lying down make it unbearable

If I do manage to use Pillows to make a comfortable position for back I don't get to lie down long anyway before the acid builds up. Either I get full heartburn (I never knew heartburn was so Excruciating, gavascon and rennies do nothing for it. Ive tried zantac which does help but they don't really like you taking it pregnant) or I just get trapped air, and only when I sit up am.i able to sort of hiccup it up. The second.i lie down it starts to build and I'll have to sit up a couple mins later to ease the discomfort or just out right evil pain

Obviously the act of sitting up is becoming harder and more painful so by the time I'm sat up. I'm breathless and.gritting my teeth through he pelvis and back pain. This routine of lying down and back up.will go on for hours before I give up on sleep and go and pace the living room instead.

In addition, I wee every single hour which renders any possibilty of finding comfort completely pointless - by the time I get up and make it Down the stairs to the loo and bsck up.thr stairs 10min will.have passed because of how slow the pain makes me and also how.out.of breath I am all the time. I have tried sleeping downstairs on couch but it's really not helpful for the back

Add into all of that, thst probably every 3 nights there will be a surprise middle of.the night puke which means I also would have been laying there for hours feeling it build up.

I just don't know what to do. I've just been putting up with it and saying Oh it's good practice for being up with baby.... But this is a whole new level combination of pain, discomfort, sickness and exhaustion that I just can't cope with. I have spent the night just sobbing as I sit on edge of couch rocking or pace round the living room

The thought of possibly doing this for another 6 weeks is unbearable but my guess is there is nothing that can be done?

Bless you, OP. I’m 37 weeks and the only thing I have is pelvic g pain so I can sympathise with you on the bone cracking agony of that. Turning over and getting out of bed ahhhh what the hell sort of pain is that I’m with you on the constant wee and breathlessness too, but how you are dealing with all the rest all I can say is you’re not alone in these final few weeks and you’re so so close now. Don’t think about 6 weeks take it a day at a time- it could be 2 weeks, or 3. You have done so well for all these weeks. Deep breaths and hugs to you

This sounds shit. Sorry.

This might not help, but go to the doctor, tell them what you've written here and ask for a prescription for omeprazole. That will sort your heartburn, and they do prescribe it for serious cases. It's magic stuff.

My heartburn was so bad I slept upright on pillows. I messed up my back and hip and walking was incredibly painful. The midwife didn't tell me there was anything I could do and I was desperate. I was given the omeprazole in an emergency doctors appointment when I went in and sobbed. It made a huge difference.

I'm so sorry this is happening to you.

Sounds awful!
I haven't suffered with the pain side of things but can definitely sympathize over the sickness. I think you need to see a doctor rather than your midwife who should be more able (and reassuring) about medications to help. Loads of the ladies over on the hyperemesis thread are on ranitidine as advised by GPs and although it isn't licensed in pregnancy it is considered safe. Some people are prescribed omeprazole instead which can also be really helpful for the acid.
There may be things they can recommend for pain relief too - you need some rest and sleep before baby gets here if possible. Good luck!

Thanks so much everyone - your replies made me burst into tears lol but only because I've never used Mumsnet and didn't really buy into the idea of getting advice and support from Internet strangers but was so desperate for advice this morning and also just wanted to vent without putting it on my other half, family or friends, that I thought I would give it a whirl -I didn't think I would be so moved but each of your replies has made me feel suddenly less alone and just that bit stronger xxx

When I was pregnant (while v grateful to be able to have my kids I loathed being pregnant, it is vile) people kept saying useless stuff about lack of sleep being “good practice for when baby is here” etc etc. Total utter bollocks - having a newborn is so much easier than being pregnant. Hell, even this time with DC2 having a newborn and an extremely active toddler is so much easier and better! I promise! You can sleep! Comfortably! Might be disrupted by the baby but DH can help, and the sleep you get is good restful sleep! Pregnancy is the worst, it sucks. I have experienced similar to your sickness and to your pain but in two separate pregnancies, not together - sorry you’re going through that.

With DC1 I was sick throughout (and got violent thoughts about the fuckers that said stuff like “oh it really eases off after 12 weeks”). I also got evil itchy PUPPPS everywhere - felt like I had rolled in nettles. All went away right after delivery.

With DC2 I was in and out of hospital for a variety of reasons for the last month (before delivery at 38 weeks), I was in so much pelvic and hip pain I could barely walk and was exhausted. Again, once DC2 arrived I felt almost instantly better. 10 weeks on I am averaging 5 or 6 hours good sleep each night - which is totally do-able - and am comfortably pretty active, able to walk several miles pushing the pram and with my toddler in a sling on my back with no issues.

Really hope you feel much better straight after delivery - and fingers crossed for a lovely healthy delivery for you in the next few weeks

for you. I know this is incredibly hard.

Please go to your doctor. They were fine with me getting a same day appointment, I'm sure they would with you too. As soon as I dropped my eldest off at school I went into the waiting room and stayed until I was seen. Once I had the omeprazole my back and hip pain lessened a lot, because I could sleep in a more normal position. I also didn't feel like I was going to be sick all the time.

Once the baby is born the heartburn disappears instantly.

I had chronic heartburn 24/7 it was horrendous, but as soon as I had the baby it completely disappeared. I had trapped nerves in my back, baby was resting on my hip so I could barely walk. I had insomnia from 16 weeks. I hated being pregnant! But it all goes once you've had the baby, except the lack of sleep!

By the end of both my pregnancies I was an angry seething mess of discomfort with PGP, who having had no sleep for ages and ages, just wanted to punch something. It was hard.

The world would have you believe pregnancy is this beautiful thing and that you should be grateful for everything because you are lucky enough to be having a child. While that is fabulous I was never going to be that grateful for mood swings, constipation, heartburn, pain, exhaustion and rage 😂

It will all fade away as soon as baby is here. Just try not to get stuck in the sofa. I did that 😭

Omeprazole! I can't believe the difference it's made!

Please go back to your midwife or GP and explain how unwell you are feeling. Explain how it's affecting your mental state and that you would like some support. I wonder if a full blood panel, blood pressure screening etc might reveal other issues which are making you feel ill (my haemoglobin was low- ferrous fumarate has sorted my sleep, energy levels and cured the restless legs that were driving me demented). How is your blood pressure? If it's up at this stage, might a consultant consider expediting your delivery?

It's rotten at this stage.

34 weeks and with you on the PGP and acid front - it's horrific. I'm now in the spare bedroom so I don't feel guilty about the hours I'm spending awake or the painful shouts and winces when I deign to try and get into another position. I feel like my pelvis is just going to snap in half sometimes.

Hopefully you can see a GP and get some relief soon. I know what you mean about 6 weeks seeming like an eternity.

Sounds like crappy support from midwife - get to your GP. Omeprazole should help the heartburn, and try to eat blandly - avoid all spice!

I was signed off work from week 15 with bad SPD, so can sympathise with the pelvic and back pain. Physio was pretty useless, but I found hydrotherapy did help (dr referred for both). You can also buy support belts, which I found too uncomfortable to wear, so had better luck with Physio taping to support bump (vids on YouTube, or done by Physio/osteopath) Hope you get some better support and relief.

Hi. I can sympathise with you too in terms of both symptoms of spd and sickness. Thankfully sickness not been too bad this time but in previous I was the same and it makes you feel so horrendous but much like you I just had to get on with it, that was 15 yrs ago and I would have hoped that there’s something you can get like the op have said now for it. I have spd or pgp too and can only recommend seeing a qualified osteopath. Since I was diagnosed I’ve tried the pillows seen a physio (not helpful) and been told to use tens machine. I took it upon myself after research to go to an osteo who is used to dealing with this condition. The idea being is that they look at alignment and can gently manipulate things in your hips and back without harming you or baby and this helped me beyond belief. Admittedly it was around half way mark but I haven’t been anywhere near as bad since!! I will be going again if it gets too much and afterwards as well. Hope you find something that helps. It’s also very frustrating when everyone around you who is pregnant seems to be able to fly through it symptomless except you, so know how you feel. Good luck

Oh and also sorry should say that any qualified and registered osteo should discuss everything throughly with you first. check in with your midwife and see if they know of any locally and given your personal medical history they might say not to and It may be that you’re too close to being due and as I say my experience was much earlier on, however that worked for me

You poor thing. Apart from the sickness (mine went at 25 weeks, just nausea now) I have exactly the same bucket of joys. Pregnancy really sucks.

Echo everyone that said omeprazole - it is a game changer and you can still take gaviscon with it. It’s all the keeps me sane with the midnight reflux.

Chiropractor kept the PGP at manageable levels since week 21, but she didn’t want to risk treatment after 36 weeks. I’ve seen a specialist physio too and it helped a bit but I think PGP is probably here for the long haul. Ice pack on the lady bits helps me - you could try that?

Mybaby that’s really interesting about the iron - I have severe iron deficiency anaemia, and was prescribed ferrous whatsit pills but haven’t been taking them in case they make reflux worse. I do have hideous restless legs, so your story may have persuaded me to try them!

I’m 38 weeks today and desperate for the baby to come. When I was 36 weeks I sobbed to DH that I couldn’t cope, but somehow I’ve survived another 2 weeks. I guess we just muddle on.

Rest rest rest as much as you can. Can you ask your midwife about induction at term maybe, given how poorly you are?

You aren’t alone - I don’t post much, but even just reading posts from people with similar issues makes me feel better.